Collapsible mixing syringe with extrusion casing



Nov. 19, 1968 L. s. SANTOMIERI 3,411,503

COLLAPSIBLE MIXING SYRINGE WITH EXTRUSION CASING Filed June 27, 1966llllllllllllll INVENTOR. v 100/: .S 54/V70M/EE/ 43M raw United StatesPatent 3,411,503 COLLAPSIBLE MIXING SYRINGE WITH EXTRUSION CASING LouisS. Santomieri, Vallejo, Calif. (345 W. M St., Benicia, Calif. 94510)Filed June 27, 1966, Ser. No. 560,642 4 Claims. (Cl. 128216) ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE A syringe, for medical use, comprising a bellows-typecollapsible body containing a diluent and disposed in a case on which ahypodermic needle may be mounted in communication with said body, and aplunger in the case finger-movable in a direction to collapse the body;the plunger including means containing a soluble medicament initiallyseparate from the diluent but which means releases the medicament intothe body for mixture with the diluent upon such movement of the plungerprior to mounting of the hypodermic needle on said body.

This invention relates in general to an improved syringe unit adaptedfor medical use in connection with an initially separate hypodermicneedle.

In particular, the invention is directed to, and it is a major object toprovide, a novel syringe unit wherein from the time of manufacture tothe time of usea dry but soluble medicament and a diluent are maintainedin sterile, enclosed and separated relation; the medicament beingreleased into the diluent by a simple manipulation of the syringe unit.The resultant solution is thus prepared in a quick and ready manner foruse and without any possible exposure to contamination. Such syringeunit is especially adapted for use with those medicaments which arerequired to be or are preferably placed in solution only shortly beforeuse.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a syringe unit,as above, which includes a collapsible body containing the diluent and acup on the body containing the dry but soluble medicament; there being arupturable membrane between the cup and body and the cup opening intocommunication with the body upon rupture of said membrane caused byforceful, manual collapse of the body.

An additional important object of the invention is to provide a syringeunit which includes a collapsible body of substantially cylindrical,bellows-type form, and a protective substantially cylindrical,open-bottom case in which the bellows-type body is enclosed; the bodyhaving a plunger at the bottom, and the case having inside diameterssuch that the plunger is desirably radially free when in its initial andlowermost position but closely slidably guided in the case when pushedupwardly during use of the syringe unit.

A further object of the invention is to provide a syringe unit which isdesigned for ease and economy of manufacture.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a practical,reliable, and durable syringe unit and one which is exceedinglyeffective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relativearrangement of parts as will fully appear by a. perusal of the followingspecification and claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the syringe unit, with the double-endedneedle shown in position for attachment to said unit- FIG. 2 is asectional elevation of the syringe unit; the view being taken on line 22of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation of the syringe unit.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan of the same.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings and to the characters ofreference marked thereon, the syringe unit comprises a verticallyelongated, cylindrical case 1 having a top 2; such case being full openat the bottom as shown.

At the front, the case 1 is formed with a longitudinal notch 3 open atits lower end to the bottom of the case; such notch 3 terminatingadjacent but short of the top 2 of said case 1. At the back of the case1 is provided with a somewhat elongated slot 4. The notch 3 and slot 4are for the purpose of permitting finger access into case 1 as willhereinafter appear.

A vertically elongated, collapsible body 5 of cylindrical, bellows-typeform is disposed within the confines of case 1; the body 5 including atop 6 permanently sealed to the underside of the top 2 of case 1.

An internally threaded neck 7 is mounted centrally on and opens throughthe top 2; the throat 8 of the neck being closed at its inner end by apuncturable membrane 9. For transport or shelf storage, the syringe unitis provided with a removable screw plug 10 threaded into the neck 7 fromits outer end.

The bellows-type body 5, before use of the syringe unit, is fullyexpanded and is then of a length somewhat less than the case 1; thebottom 11 of said body 5 being permanently sealed to the topside of acircular plunger 12 having a depending annular skirt 13. The plunger 12and skirt 13 form, in effect, a piston-like member on the lower end ofthe bellows-type body 5 and which member is disposed wholly within thecase.

At the front, the skirt 13 has a downwardly opening, substantiallysemi-circular finger notch 14 therein which is symmetrical to andregisters in the main with the vertically elongated notch 3 in case 1.

The circular plunger 12 is formed with a central, depending cup 15closed at the top by a rupturable membrane 16 whichuntilrupturedprevents communication and provides a seal between said cup 15and the interior of the bellows-type body 5.

As the cup 15 depends from the plunger 12, such cup serves as a centralpush button adapted for engagement from below by a finger projectedlaterally into the syringe unit through the notches 3 and 14.

The cup 15 contains a quantity of a dry but soluble medicament?17 whichdoes not quite fill the cup and so that, as shown, a small void remainsbelow the rupturable membrane 16. The bellows-type body 5 is filled witha sterile diluent which remains separate from the medicament 17 as longas membrane 16 is unruptured.

When the syringe unit is in its manufactured or initial condition, withthe cup 15 holding the medicament 17 and the bellows-type body 5 filledwith a sterile diluent, said body is fully expanded and the skirtedplunger 12 occupies a position in the lower portion of the cylindricalcase 1. Such lower portion of the case has a bore 18 whose insidediameter is greater than the outside diameter of said skirted plunger12; the bore 18 extending to a point above said plunger. Consequently,the bellows-type body 5 can freely expand (due to temperature oratmospheric variation) and without the skirted plunger binding in thecase. This is an important feature as it prevents accidental rupturingof membrane 16 by undue pressure increase in the body 5.

Above the lower portion of the case, the bore 19 thereof is reduced indiameter to an extent sufiicient to receive the skirted plunger 12 inclose but relatively slidable, guided relation.

The above described syringe unit is used in the following manner:

With the syringe unit in hand, one finger is extended through thenotches 3 and 14 and into engagement with the bottom of cup 15; thelatter then being forcefully pressed upward. This rapidly increases thepressure in the bellows-type body whereupon the membrane 16 ruptures,the diluent gains access to cup and the medicament 17 therein, and bythen shaking the syringe unit the medicament passes into solution in thediluent and is ready for hypodermic injection.

Such injection of the solution is accomplished by removing the screwplug 10 and replacing it with the screw plug 20 of a double-endedhypodermic needle 21 of standard type. As the screw plug 20 is threadedinto neck 7, the inner end portion of needle 21 punctures the membrane 9and passes into the upper part of the bellows-type body 5. Thereafter,with the outer end portion of needle 21 medically inserted, the skirtedplunger 12 is pressed into the guiding bore 19 of the case and slowlyadvanced by finger pressure against the bottom of cup 15; the finger asbefore-extending through notches 3 and 14. As the plunger is soadvanced, the bellows-type body 5 is shortened and the -solution thereinis fed through the needle 21 in a measured quantity indicated by a scale22 marked exteriorly on case 1 adjacent the vertically elongated notch3, and on which scale the plunger reads.

Under certain conditions, it is necessary to partially expand orlengthen the bellows-type body 5 after the skirted plunger 12 has beenadvanced. This is done by placing fingers through both the front notch 3and rear slot 4, and then engaging and applying a light force to thebellows-type body 5 in a direction to expand or lengthen it.

The pre-filled syringe unit of the present invention is quick to use(important in an emergency), wholly avoids the necessity of filling thesyringe at the time of use, and assures of a sterile solution forinjection.

From the foregoing description, it will be readily seen that there hasbeen produced such a syringe unit as substantially fulfills the objectsof the invention, as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferredconstruction of the syringe unit, still in practice such deviations fromsuch detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from thespirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new anduseful and upon which Letters Patent is desired:

1. A syringe unit comprising a cylindrical case having a top, acylindrical bellows-type body disposed in the case, the upper end of thebellows-type body being secured in sealed relation to the top of thecase, means on the top of the case adapted to receive and support ahypodermic needle in communication with the interior of the bellows-typebody, a plunger on the lower end of the bellows-type body, the casebeing formed to provide finger access to said plunger, a cup formed inthe plunger and facing into the bellows-type body, and a pressurerupturable membrane closing the cup against communication with theinterior of said body; the cup containing a soluble medicament, and thebellows-type body being filled with a diluent.

2. A syringe unit, as in claim 1, in which the cup depends from theplunger to provide a push button, the plunger being skirted, there beinga finger notch in the skirt, and an elongated finger notch in the case;such notches being in register.

3. A syringe unit, as in claim 1, in which the lower portion of the boreof the case is of reater inside diameter than the diameter of theplunger, the plunger initially being disposed in said lower portion ofthe bore of the case, and the upper portion of the bore of the casebeing of a diameter to receive the plunger in close but relativelyslidable, guided relation.

4. A syringe unit, as in claim 1, in which the case is formed with anelongated finger notch, the plunger being visible and accessible throughsuch finger notch, and scale markings lengthwise on the case adjacentthe finger notch.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,129,119 9/1938 Davis 2222,676,591 4/1954 Fox 1282l6 2,717,598 9/1955 Krasno 128-216 3,340,8699/1967 Bane 128--216 3,351,058 11/1967 Webb 128272 FOREIGN PATENTS294,187 7/ 19.28 Great Britain.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

M. MAJESTIC, Assistant Examiner.

